There are many kinds of bacteria, and the human body is home to an estimated 39 trillion of them—more than the number of cells—of all types. The vast majority are harmless and even provide important functions, but some can cause infections responsible for ailments from strep throat and whooping cough to Salmonella and tetanus.
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Superbugs, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria, infect millions and pose a threat to global health. Developing new antibiotics is costly, offers limited profits, and struggles to outpace bacteria’s rapid evolution.
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat, driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and more. Estimates suggest superbugs could lead to $1T in healthcare costs by 2050, and the world faces a shortage of new drug development to meet the challenge.
One reason antibiotic resistance spreads so quickly is that bacteria have multiple mechanisms allowing them to share genetic material. This short video offers a concise explanation for each of these mechanisms, and animation that helps viewers understand how antimicrobial resistance can quickly spread from one organism to another.
Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin revolutionized modern medicine. But the same man who pioneered the development of antibiotics also recognized that bacteria could make sntibiotics obsolete if they were used irresponsibly. This story sheds light on Fleming’s discovery—and on his prophetic warning about antibiotic resistance.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics are significant contributors to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Experts say antibiotics should only be used for specific medical problems, and patients need to be sure to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed in order to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
The World Health Organization updated its list of the highest priority pathogens known to have developed antimicrobial resistance. Topping the 2024 update is Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant ("CRAB"), which has a mortality rate close to 50% and has evolved defenses against last-line medications. Download the full report here.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)—the superbug version of staph infection—is responsible for more deaths than any other superbug, killing more than 120,000 people globally each year. The bug is leading cause of hospital infections, and is harmless on the skin but causes severe symptoms once inside the body.
Mutations in bacteria—changes in their DNA—can lead to new, more dangerous strains. Researchers have developed a technique to monitor these mutations in real time. Using the technology, scientists found that mutations occur at a steady, regular rate, with 1% of these mutations leading to potentially deadly changes.
The term 'Gram-negative' bacteria refers to bugs which react a certain way under a Gram stain test. These bacteria are harder to kill due to their double-layer cell walls with a thin peptidoglycan layer in between. This structure makes the delivery of drugs into the bacterial cell substantially more difficult.
A new class of antibiotics had not been discovered in more than 50 years—until late 2023, when MIT researchers announced a new antibiotic called Zosurabalpin. In animal testing, Zosurabalpin was able to treat at least one type of superbug. While the drug still needs to go through clinical trials, it is a significant advance at a time when new antibiotics are in great demand.
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